Improvement in oyster-dredge winders



N. PETERS. PHDTO-LITHOGRAPNER. WASHINGTON, D c.

tnitzl CHARLES T. BELBIN, OF

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

Letters'Patent No.109,104, dated November 8,1870.'

4IMPROVEWIEN'I" IN OYSTER-DREDGE WINDERS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part 0I the same.

To all whom ift mag/concern:

Be it lknown that I, CHARLES T. BELBIN, of Balti- 4 atta'ched thereto.

rlhis invention relates particularly to that class of windlasses which are used on board of vessels under way for the purpose of hoisting in oyster-dredges, and

itsobjectis to prevent thc windlass from being suddenly and violently reversed, to tle great danger of the men and the machinery, in case of the dredge accidentally catching upon a rock or other immovable obstacle.

To this end it consists in winding the dredge-rope or chain upon a spoolf upon theA windlass, which is ordinarily prevented from turning on `the shaft, when the latter is moving in-theright direction, by means of a clutch, but is instantly released, automatically, from the clutch the moment the windlass turns backward, .lhe devices by which this object is accomplished I will now proceed to describe in detail.

In the drawing` I F represents the frame of the machine.

XV, a windlass, provided with cranks w w.

s, a spool, mounted on the windlass;

c, a clutch, sliding upon the windlass, and engaging with the end of the spool l, alever, by which the clutch and spool can be engaged or disengaged; p

lr, a ratchet-wheel, fastened firmly on the opposite end of the windlass;

. on, a lever, consisting of two parallel metallic plates `pivoted loosely on the windlass, one on each side of the ratchet, and bearing against it;

tn., a hook or pawl, articulated 'tothe upper end ot" level' m, between the two plates, and resting, as shown, upon the ratchet o, a chain, extending from the lower end of lever m down to a bell-crank level', l);

t, a chain, connecting the opposite arm of crank b with the long arm of lever l; and

1J, a weight, attached to chain 0v or crank b, and serving to keep lever m in a position nearly as shown in the drawing.

The vessel being in rapid motion, dragging the dredge, which is suspended from the spool by a rope or chain, and the spool being engaged with the clutch, the men commence hoisting the dredge in by means ol the cranks w w.

So long as the windlass turns in the proper direction it carries the spool with itand winds up the chain. llie ratchet r (iig. 2) meanwhile turns backward, slipping under the pawl without engaging with it, the lever anhanging loosely, as shown in g. 2.

parts so long as the dredge drags smoothly along without encountering an obstacle. The instant that it catches in a yrock or other impediment, however, it suddenly checks and reverses the motion of the wind.- lass,` whereupon the ratchet r engages with the pawl n, and draws the upper end of lever m forward, throwing its lower end back, and causing it to lift upon chain o, the action ot' which, communicated through crank b, chain t, and lever l, disengages the clutch from the spool, allowing the spool to be turned loosely on the The men at the cranks areV thus saved from injury, and the machinery is prevented from breaking. As soon as the windlass stops, weight pbrings lever lm and pawl n to their proper positions again.

-This device, although designed especially for use in dredging, will be equal] y serviceable in connection withconstructed to operate substantially as and for the purpose specified.

c CHARLES T. BELBIN. Vitnesses: 4

GEORGE G. H. GANN,

This will continue to be the relative situation of theA shaft while the windlass stands still. ,A 

